Popspotting #78: Cars 2 (June 27, 2011)
It’s been five years since we’ve heard from Lightning McQueen and his friends from Radiator Springs. The original “Cars” wasn’t the strongest Pixar film, but still a favorite of our family. “Cars 2” picks up the pace and takes us around the world, and into the world of international intrigue, with a spy plot that director John Lasseter says was inspired in part by the Jason Bourne movies. Tow Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) takes a more central role, and we meet new characters (including a British pair voiced by Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer). There’s car geek trivia and movie references, and like “Wall-E,” there’s even a subplot of social commentary. Even a so-so Pixar flick is a good flick by any other measure, so this sequel offers a pretty good ride.
I guess you guys should avoid The Muppet Movie this fall, because there’s going to be another Toy Story short before that one – with more yet to come beyond that.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/01/toy-story-hawaiian-vacation-clip-reveals-return-of-the-toybox-gang-exclusive/
Oh, and there’s this, posted just today about the possibility (likelihood?) of a fourth Toy Story movie:Â http://pixartimes.com/2011/06/27/pixar-already-working-on-toy-story-4/
That’s disappointing, but as an ongoing business concern, I guess they have to seriously reconsider leaving what’s probably a metric buttload of money on the table. But I’m not convinced “Cars 2” needed a sequel, really, and would rather see Pixar commit to an original, albeit riskier, story, than continuing one that’s already had three chapters.